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| | R E S O L U T I O N |
| | WHEREAS, Alison Brock, the chief of staff for State |
| | Representative Sylvester Turner, has rendered exceptional service |
| | to the people of this state through her decisive action in behalf of |
| | incarcerated youth; and |
| | WHEREAS, When repeated complaints about suspected sexual |
| | abuse at the West Texas State School in Pyote failed to receive |
| | serious attention from TYC officials, a volunteer math teacher at |
| | the facility contacted a Texas Ranger, who launched an |
| | investigation in February 2005; the ranger filed his report, |
| | detailing serious allegations of abuse, in April 2005, but a year |
| | and a half later the case had yet to be prosecuted and remained out |
| | of the public eye; and |
| | WHEREAS, By chance, Ms. Brock learned in late October 2006 of |
| | the ranger's investigation and the fact that the case had not yet |
| | been taken to the grand jury; she promptly contacted the ranger to |
| | request a copy of his report and then alerted officials in Austin; |
| | her sense of urgency stemmed from the gravity of the offenses |
| | alleged and from the fact that the statute of limitations on |
| | prosecution would expire in 2007; and |
| | WHEREAS, After being informed by Ms. Brock about the |
| | situation in Ward County, the governor's office arranged for the |
| | attorney general's office to provide critical assistance in |
| | prosecuting the case there, and steps are now being taken to reform |
| | the TYC; and |
| | WHEREAS, Widely respected for the skill and dedication that |
| | she brings to her work, Alison Brock first joined Representative |
| | Turner's staff in 1992 and quickly developed an interest in |
| | juvenile justice; to gain more knowledge of that field, she earned a |
| | master's degree from The University of Texas LBJ School of Public |
| | Affairs; she subsequently served as a juvenile probation officer |
| | and as director of both the ACLU's Prison and Jail Accountability |
| | Project and its campaign to educate ex-offenders about their right |
| | to vote; in 2006 she returned to Representative Turner's staff as |
| | his legislative director; and |
| | WHEREAS, Ms. Brock's longtime involvement in the community is |
| | equally reflective of her commitment to constructive action; she |
| | has been a board member of the Austin YWCA and the Texas Ratepayers' |
| | Organization to Save Energy, as well as a volunteer for Meals on |
| | Wheels, Big Brothers/Big Sisters, and a spirituality/12-step |
| | program that serves women in prison; and |
| | WHEREAS, In respecting the humanity of vulnerable |
| | populations, and in striving to protect them from abuses of power, |
| | Alison Brock has exemplified the highest standards of public |
| | service and contributed immeasurably to improving the system by |
| | which Texas seeks to rehabilitate its youthful offenders; now, |
| | therefore, be it |
| | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 80th Texas |
| | Legislature hereby honor Alison Brock for her vital role in |
| | bringing needed attention to a matter of serious public concern and |
| | extend to her profound appreciation for all she has done to protect |
| | youth in the care of this state; and, be it further |
| | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
| | prepared for Ms. Brock as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
| | House of Representatives. |
